Casting ejector apparatus



0, 1966 K. D. CLARK 3,268,961

CASTING EJECTOR APPARATUS Filed Sept. 16, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 E5 E. INVENTOR.

KENNETH D 62A RK ATTOENEY5.

Filed Sept. 16, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 "l 1&5

INVENTOR. KENNETH D. CLARK ATTOBNEYS.

Aug. 30, 1966 K. o. CLARK CASTING EJECTOR APPARATUS Filed Sept. 16, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .M mM. m D M N m K 444W, am 0%? ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent factoring Company, tlleveland, Uhio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 309,117 6 Claims. (Cl. 22--94) This invention relates generally to metal casting equipment and in particular to improved automatic casting ejecting means for use in high production, permanent mold machines.

The permanent mold machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprise a plurality of separate molds mounted on supporting apparatus in a circular arrangement; the supporting apparatus carrying a plurality of the casting ejector apparatus of this invention which are capable of individual operation to effectively automatically eject a casting or castings from a mold. It will be understood that the ejector apparatus of this invention is adaptable to other mold machine arrangements and other rn-old machine arrangements having varied numbers of such molds; this being dictated by the type of molding operation or by the requirements of installation of casting machinery in different plants.

This invention provides ejector apparatus for effectively automatically removing a solidified casting or castings from either section of an open mold by the provision of members in operative association with the casting, carried by externally motivated actuating units.

This invention further provides ejector apparatus for effectively automatically removing a solidified casting from either section of an open mold by the provision of casting contacting members carried by actuating units motivated by the mold supporting apparatus.

This invention further provides ejector apparatus for effectively automatically removing a solidified casting from either section of an open mold by the provision of adjustably positioned casting contacting members carried by actuating units supported with respect to the movable mold section for operation by the mold supporting apparatus.

This invention also provides casting ejector apparatus for eliminating the requirement of manually ejecting a casting from a mold and providing an automatic cyclical casting removal operation requiring little attention and thereby being more economical in operation.

This invention further provides a casting ejector apparatus adaptable for use with existing casting machine assemblies of the split mold type, particularly the split permanent mold type.

Other objects and advantages including an alternative design will be apparent as the following description proceeds with reference to the drawings and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a conventional circularly arranged multi-mold casting machine shown with the casting ejector apparatus modification utilizing short ejector rod casting contacting fingers, the casting ejector apparatus at the left shown in association with a closed mold;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view of the casting ejector apparatus with a mold in closed-mold position and showing fragments of the casting machine mold support apparatus to which said casting ejector is attached;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a casting ejector apparatus attached to the movable mold section guide bars of a split mold casting machine, the modification of the ejector apparatus having elongated ejector rod casting contacting fingers being shown;

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FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the ejector apparatus in FIGURE 3 showing a portion of both sections of a split mold in open-mold position and the casting contacting finger and actuating rod at one position of movement;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the movable mold section of a split mold showing the casting ejector apparatus of FIGURE 3 in pre-ejection relation with a casting C;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the ejector apparatus of FIGURE 1 in association with the movable mold section shown in open mold position and after casting disposal;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of the casting ejector apparatus of FIGURE 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged end view of the ejector apparatus of FIGURE 7; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of an ejector finger showing the detail of one form thereof.

The apparatus of this invention, in general, is designed to improve the functioning of the molding operation of removing solidified castings from molds at an appropriate time in the molding machine cycle so that such ejection is positive and within an allowed time period to permit the steady flow of a production-line type of speedy casting equipment.

The casting once freed from the mold by action of casting ejector apparatus of this invention drops by gravity onto a conveyor or into an appropriate storage space or containers which are removed periodically as they become filled.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated a plurality of molds, each having an inner movable section 11 and outer fixed section 12 in circular arrangement in a permanent mold machine. Mold supporting apparatus A is provided in association with each mold which is adapted to open and close the molds as they rotate around a central axis. The mold machine also comprises a centrally disposed structure for positioning the supporting apparatus and driving mechanism (not shown) for rotating and indexing the mold supporting apparatus about the centrally disposed structure.

The mold supporting apparatus A comprises circularly disposed supporting structure 13, a movable inner mold supporting head 14, an outer mold supporting head 15 fixed to structure 13, main guide bars 16 carrying sup porting head 14 for radially slidable movement with respect to supporting head 15 and air cylinder 17 carried on air cylinder brackets 18 for actuating guide bars 16. The casting ejector apparatus is fastened to supporting apparatus A on the two main guide bars 16 directly in front of a cross piece 19, by ejector supporting means comprising loop clamps 20 and 21 mounted on vertical members 22 and 23 which are joined by a slotted bridge member 24 and onto which are fastened the guide bushings 38 and 39 through which'are slidably mounted support rods 25 and 26. The support rods 25, 26 carry casting contact fingers which extend generally vertically downward to a position adjacent to and in operative association with the mold and the casting disposed therein to automatically eject the casting from the mold as the mold is opened, as will become clear hereinafter. Each of the casting contact fingers are vertically adjustable to a desired height by the provision of slot 22a in vertical member 22, and slot 23a in vertical member 23 through which loop clamps 20, 21, respectively, are adjustably positioned.

FIGURES 3, 4, 5 and 9 show one embodiment of the casting ejector apparatus utilizing elongated fingers 27, 28 integral with support rods 25, 26, respectively. In operation, the elongated fingers 27 and 28 are adapted to be positioned in recesses as illustrated in FIGURE 4, whereby finger 27 fits into correspondingly geometrically configured recesses 29 and 30. Likewise, finger 28 fits into correspondingly geometrically configured recesses (not shown) in the mold sections. Milled along the casting cavity side of each of the fingers 27 and 28 is a slot, as shown at 40 in FIGURE 9, said slot being preferably of arcuate or tapered cross section to facilitate release of the solidified casting. When the mold is closed about said fingers and the metal has been poured, the slots in the fingers receive metal by way of the gating system which solidifies in the slots. This causes the casting to become temporarily connected with the fingers, and when the mold is opened, the casting is freed from the mold sections by actuation of support rods 25, 26, permitting the casting to drop free from the mold sections into a receptacle or-onto a conveyor provided therefor. In so freeing the casting from the mold sections, the portions of the casting which have solidified in the finger slots slide longitudinally along said finger slots until the casting drops free thereof.

An alternative embodiment of the casting contacting fingers of rods 25 and 26 is shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8, wherein the casting contact fingers 27' and 28' are of the tapered stub-type, positioned into suitably located slots or riser cavities (not shown) in the mold so that when metal is poured and the riser cavities are filled, the top portions of the risers solidify about the tips of fingers 27 and 28'. When the casting has solidified and the mold opened, the casting is freed from the mold sections by actuation of rods 25, 26 and the force of gravity in conjunction with operation of rods 25, 26 causes the casting to drop off the tapered tips of fingers 27' and 28' into a collecting container or onto a conveyor provided therefor.

The rods 25 and 26 are slidably mounted to bridge member 24 of the ejector supporting means by the use of U-brackets or squared split-bushings 38 and 39 so that arms 25 and 26 can be slidably positioned therein and operate in slidable relation therewith. Vertical members 22 and 23 of the ejector supporting means incorporate elongated slots 22a and 23a, respectively, so that the ejector supporting members 22, 23 and 24 can be slidably positioned and fixed in vertical relation onto main guide bars 16 and clamped thereto in fixed position by means of U-clamps and 21. Safety collars 33 and 34 are fixed in operative position on the aft sections of rods and 26. Abutment sleeves 35 and 36 serve as bumpers with respect to bracket 18 to limit the rearward travel of rods 25 and 26 with respect to guide bars 16, thus limiting rearward movement of the casting contact fingers with respect to the mold sections.

In the operation of the invention, a complete casting machine of the type shown in FIGURE 1 is provided with ejector apparatus mounted to each pair of main guide bars 16, one complete ejector unit being provided for coaction with each mold unit, assembled and adjusted to function as part of the casting cycle. Each mold would be progressively closed while simultaneously adjusting the position of vertical members 22 and 23 onto main guide bars 16 and the longitudinal position of safety collars 33 and 34 so that in the closed mold position, the space between split bushing 38 and collar 33 and split bushing 39 and collar 34 is greater than the greatest extent of casting C from the mold parting plane into either section 11 and 12 of the mold. Thus, when the casting C emerges from mold section 11 and remains adhered to mold section 12, as mold section 11 and the ejector supporting means move rearward, the split bushings 38 and 39 strike collars 33 and 34, respectively, so that further aft movement of mold section 11 and the support frame causes a comparable movement of rods 25 and 26, and thus the contact fingers with casting connected thereto, thereby forceably pull the casting out of mold section 12.

Similarly, the abutment sleeves 35 and 36 must be positioned so that when the casting is first forceably pulled clear of mold section 12 and mold section 11 moves aft with the ejector supporting members 22, 23 and 24, etc., the sleeves 35 and 36 will abut plate 18 and further aft movement of mold section 11 causes the casting and rods 25 and 26 to remain stationary, thereby causing the casting to be jarred loose and forced free of mold section 11.

Having thus adjusted the machine, it can be further readied for operation in preparation for pouring molten metal. A pouring and casting ejecting sequence is performed as follows:

Mold sections 11 and 12 are prepared for receiving molten metal which is introduced from ladle 37. At the appropriate station in the operative cycle, and in particular, when sufiicient solidification has taken place so that the mold can be opened for casting removal, main guide bars 16 are motivated rearward, moving split bushings 33 and 39 simultaneously therewith. In the casting eject-or apparatus modification incorporating contact fingers 27, 28, the casting preferentially adheres to mold section 11 and emerges free of mold section 12. Mold section 11 carrying the castings continues to move rearward until sleeves 35 and 36 contact bracket 18. Rods 25 and 26, with castings connected to contact fingers 27 and 28, remain stationary while mold section 11 continues rearward. As the castings are forced out of the cavity in mold section 11 they drop onto a conveyor or into a receptacle.

In the casting eject-or apparatus modification incorporating contact fingers 27 28', the casting preferentially adheres to mold section 12 and emerges free of mold section 11. As mold section 11 continues to move rearwardly, split bushings 38 and 39 will strike safety collars 33 and 34, respectively. After the castings are pulled from mold section 12, their own weight will pull them ofl? the tapered ends of contact fingers 27 and 28.

Thus it is clear that if the castings adhere to mold section 11, all the apparatus will move rearward until sleeves 35 and 36 contact plate 18. Rods 25 and 26 then become stationary. Mold section 11 continues rearward until castings are forced from mold section 11. The castings then slide down the grooves in contact fingers 27 and 28 and drop onto a conveyor or into a receptacle.

Further, if the castings adhere to mold section 12, the rods 25 and 26 remain stationary while mold section 11 with the remainder of the apparatus moves rearward. Further movement causes bushings 38 and 39 to contact collars 33 and 34. Previously stationary rods 25 and 26 are then moved rearward causing the castings to be pulled from mold section 12. The castings then drop onto a conveyor-or into a receptacle.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then consists of the means hereinafter particularly pointed out in the appended claims; the foregoing description in conjunction with the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but a few of the various forms in which the principle of this invention may be employed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A split permanent mold casting machine comprising in combination:

(a) a mold-supporting apparatus;

(b) a first mold section carried by said supporting apparatus;

(c) a second mold section carried by said supporting apparatus and movable toward and away from said first section to close and open said mold;

(d) means for moving said second mold section;

(e) means for ejecting a casting formed in the mold,

said means including:

(f) a finger for engaging and adhering to a portion of a casting formed in the mold;

(g) means for supporting said finger;

(h) means coacting with said finger in response to movement of said mold section away from said first mold section a predetermined distance and when said casting adheres to said first mold section, for selectively positively moving said finger away from said first mold section such that the attached casing is removed from said mold section; and

(i) means coacting with said finger when said second mold section moves a predetermined distance from said first mold section and said casting adheres to said second mold section, for selectively positively moving said finger away from said second mold section such that the casting is removed from said second mold section.

2. A casting ejector apparatus for use in association with a split mold type permanent mold machine having a plurality of circularly disposed molds, each including radially aligned mold sections, one mold section being movably mounted with respect to the other mold section on a pair of movable guide bars which carry a bracket for supporting guide bar moving means;

said casting ejector apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of vertically disposed support members;

(b) clamp means adjustably securing said support members on said guide bars;

(c) a horizontally disposed slotted bridge member secured to the upper end portions of said vertically disposed support members;

(d) a pair of spaced guide bushings secured to said bridge member;

(e) a pair of support rods, each of said rods being slida'bly mounted through one of said guide bushings;

(f) a vertically disposed casting contacting finger carried by each of said support rods and said fingers extending into said mold for being secured to the casting disposed therein;

(g) collar means adjustably positioned on each of said rods;

(h) abutment sleeve means disposed at the end of each of said rods and carried by said rods;

(i) said bushings abutting said collars as said movable mold section moves away from said stationary mold section when the casting adheres to said stationary mold section, to prohibit movement of said rods with respect to said movable mold section and to dispose said rods, fingers and casting carried by said fingers in a position removed from the stationary mold section;

(j) and said abutment sleeves engaging said bracket to prohibit movement of said rods with respect to said movable mold section when the casting adheres to said movable mold section, for disposing said fingers and casting carried by said fingers in a position removed from said movable mold section,

3. A split permanent mold casting machine comprising in combination:

(a) a mold-supporting apparatus;

(b) a first mold section carried by said supporting apparatus;

(c) a second mold section carried by said supporting apparatus and movable toward and away from said first section to close and open said mold; and

(d) means for ejecting a casting formed in the mold,

said means including:

(1) a finger independent of the mold sections, ex-

tending into the mold transversely between the sections, the finger engaging and adhering to a portion of a casting formed in the mold; and

(2) means coacting with the finger for moving the finger relative to either of the mold sections when the mold sections are moved away from each other, in order to remove the casting from 5 the mold, said finger moving means including:

(i) means for moving the finger relative to said first mold section, said means including, a rod extending from said finger for supporting the finger between the mold sections, a support movable with said second movable mold section for holding the rod in surmounted relation to said second mold section, said rod movable relative to said support, and means on said rod for limiting movement of said movable second mold section away from said finger; and

(ii) separate means for moving said finger relative to said second mold section.

4. A split mold casting machine in accordance with claim 3, in which the separate means for moving said finger relative to said second mold section includes, means on said rod end farthest from said finger, coacting with said mold supporting apparatus to move said finger from said movable second mold section after said second mold section has moved a predetermined distance away from said first mold section.

5. A split mold casting machine in accordance with claim 4 in which the rod support is adjustable for varying the distance the finger extends into the mold between the mold sections.

6. A split permanent mold casting machine having:

(a) mold supporting apparatus;

(b) a first mold section carried by said supporting apparatus;

(c) a second mold section carried by said supporting apparatus and movable toward and away from said first section to close and open said mold; and

(d) casting ejecting means, comprising:

(e) a casting engaging finger releasably engaged by a casting when solidified in said mold;

(f) means for supporting said casting engaging finger relative to said mold; and

(g) means coacting between said finger and said supporting means for selectively forceably removing the solidified casting from said mold section;

(h) said casting removing means including means for moving the finger relative to the first mold section, and separate means for moving the finger relative to the second mold section;

(i) said means for moving said finger relative to said first mold section including, a finger-supporting rod for limiting relative movement with respect to said supporting means in the direction of said second mold section and means on said supporting rod for interrupting said relative movement of said rod with respect to said support means;

(j) said supporting means including, a bushing in which the finger-supporting rod is slidably mounted; and

(k) the interrupting means including, a collar on said rod for abutting relation against said bushing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/ 1949 Harvey 22--94 8/1958 Schuchardt 2294 6/ 1964 Steinman et 'al. 2294 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,268,961 August 30, 1966 Kenneth D. Clark It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line 45, for "section" read sections Signed and sealed this 1st day of August 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. A SPLIT PERMANENT MOLD CASTING MACHINE COMPRISING IN COMBINATON: (A) A MOLD-SUPPORTING APPARATUS; (B) A FIRST MOLD SECTION CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORTING APPARATUS; (C) A SECOND MOLD SECTION CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORTING APPARATUS AND MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID FIRST SECTION TO CLOSE AND OPEN SAID MOLD; (D) MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SECOND MOLD SECTION; (E) MEANS FOR EJECTING A CASTING FORMED IN THE MOLD, SAID MEANS INCLUDING: (F) A FINGER FOR ENGAGING AND ADHERING TO A PORTION OF A CASTING FORMED IN THE MOLD; (G) MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID FINGER; (H) MEANS COACTING WITH SAID FINGER IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID MOLD SECTION AWAY FROM SAID FIRST MOLD SECTION A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE AND WHEN SAID CASTING ADHERES TO SAID FIRST MOLD SECTION, FOR SELECTIVELY POSITIVELY MOVING SAID FINGER AWAY FROM SAID FIRST MOLD SECTION SUCH THAT THE ATTACHED CASING IS REMOVED FROM SAID MOLD SECTION; AND (I) MEANS COACTING WITH SAID FINGER WHEN SAID SECOND MOLD SECTION MOVES A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM SAID FIRST MOLD SECTION AND SAID CASTING ADHERES TO SAID SECOND MOLD SECTION, FOR SELECTIVELY POSITIVELY MOVING SAID FINGER AWAY FROM SAID SECOND MOLD SECTION SUCH THAT THE CASTING IS REMOVED FROM SAID SECOND MOLD SECTION. 